Reigns was scheduled to face a litany of WWE Superstars in a gauntlet match in New Orleans but could only square off with Kevin Owens before the locker room beat the Big Dog down.

Lesnar then cleared the ring - taking Sheamus to Suplex City - and, after a staredown with Reigns, the man he met WrestleMania 31 last March, he dropped the Juggernaut into the canvas.

The Wyatt Family were sent into retreat in New Orleans

Bray Wyatt and his minions, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman, will also feature in the 2016 Rumble but were overpowered by Ryback and the new Social Outcasts faction - Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel and Adam Rose - as Raw hit the Big Easy.

Sheamus, meanwhile, received two beatings on the red brand, with his pummelling by Lesnar taking place after he was busted open by Dean Ambrose as the pair's clash ended in a double count-out.

Ambrose was pained, too, with arch-rival Owens jumping him after his dust-up with Sheamus, while Stardust - replete with Aladdin Sane face paint as a tribute to late music legend David Bowie - ambushed Titus O'Neil after he was defeated by The Big Deal.

Stardust paid tribute to David Bowie with his face paint

Elsewhere, The Usos overcame Big E and Kofi Kingston, and Becky Lynch assaulted Charlotte - and vowed to take both the Divas Champion's title and arm - before the Nature Girl could lock horns with Brie Bella.

Plus, Kalisto caused an upset by beating Alberto Del Rio for the United States Championship, the masked grappler downing the Mexican with a roll-up.